Sam Fifield

Sam Fifield
14th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 2, 1882 – January 3, 1887
Governor	Jeremiah Rusk
Preceded by	James M. Bingham
Succeeded by	George W. Ryland
Wisconsin State Senate
In office 1876–1881
Wisconsin State Assembly
In office 1874–1876
Personal details
Born	June 24, 1839 Corinna, Maine
Died	February 17, 1915 (aged 75) Ashland, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Stella Grimes Fifield (1845-1913)
Children	Lillian Fifield Payne (1868-1956)
Residence	Ashland, Wisconsin

Samuel S. Fifield (June 24, 1839 – February 17, 1915)^[1][2] was a Wisconsin politician and influential businessperson. The town of Fifield, Wisconsin is named after him.

He was born in Corinna, Maine in 1839 and received an education as a printer. He moved to Wisconsin in 1854, where he worked as a clerk on a steamboat on the St. Croix River. He founded the Polk County Press in 1861.^[3]

After the American Civil War, he entered politics and served as a Serjeant-at-Arms for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1871 and 1872. He later served as a Republican member of the Assembly from 1874 through 1876, serving as speaker the last year.^[4] He was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1876, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry D. Barron. He served in the State Senate until 1881, at which time he was elected as Wisconsin's 14th Lieutenant Governor.^[5]

Having lived in Ashland since 1872, he helped found the Ashland Press newspaper. He was the chairman of the first board of supervisors in June, 1872.^[6]

After retiring from politics in 1887, he served as Postmaster in Ashland,^[7] and opened a summer resort on Sand Island in Lake Superior. ^[8] Named "Camp Stella," after Fifield's wife, the camp was one of the first successful resorts in northern Wisconsin. ^[9] The site is now within the boundaries of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; many of the buildings are still standing, and one, the "Sevona Memorial Cottage," is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[10]

Fifield died in 1915 at his home in Ashland.^[11] In Ashland, there is a street of Historic homes named Fifield Row, in his honor.

Sam Fifield is buried next to his wife, Stella, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Ashland.

References

1. "Wisconsin Constitutional Officers; Lieutenant Governors" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. July 2005. p. 31. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
2. "Sam S. Fifield". Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
3. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1885 edition. p. 416.
4. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1885 edition. p. 416.
5. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1885 edition. p. 416.
6. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1885 edition. p. 416.
7. Peterson, Sheree L. "Camp Stella: Meeting Place of Kindred Souls," report for the Eastern National Park and Monument Association, 1997
8. Busch, Jane C. People and Places: a Human History of the Apostle Islands, prepared for National Park Service, 2008.
9. Peterson, Sheree L. "Camp Stella: Meeting Place of Kindred Souls"
10. Busch, Jane C. People and Places: a Human History of the Apostle Islands.
11. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1885 edition. p. 416.